Kirstie Cummings
@kacummings.bsky.social
Assistant Professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham studying the circuit mechanisms of learning and memory. Lover of interneurons 🥰. Displaced New Yorker. First-gen college grad. Above all else, be kind. She/her.
Cummingslab.com
Cummingslab.com
Pinned
Kirstie Cummings
@kacummings.bsky.social
· Nov 24
The mouse dorsal peduncular cortex encodes fear memory
Campos-Cardoso et al. employ a series of multimodal analyses to demonstrate that the
mouse dorsal peduncular cortex encodes fear but not extinction memory. These findings
redefine the principles of th...
www.cell.com
In the spirit of a fresh start on 🦋, I'm happy to share our lab's first paper, published earlier this year!
Reposted by Kirstie Cummings
Today, I would like to honor the memory of Roger Y. Tsien, born on February 1, 1952. His legacy lives with all who use his technologies, including calcium sensors, fluorescent proteins, the acetoxymethyl (AM) ester, & many more! #FluorescenceFriday
www.nature.com/articles/nme...
www.nature.com/articles/nme...
January 30, 2026 at 2:52 PM
Today, I would like to honor the memory of Roger Y. Tsien, born on February 1, 1952. His legacy lives with all who use his technologies, including calcium sensors, fluorescent proteins, the acetoxymethyl (AM) ester, & many more! #FluorescenceFriday
www.nature.com/articles/nme...
www.nature.com/articles/nme...
Reposted by Kirstie Cummings
Second R01 for the lab submitted despite it all. Levi is taking all the credit for it (co-I of course).
Anyway continue calling your senators and reps. ICE has not left and we are still under a paramilitary occupation. My students are not safe and shouldn’t have to feel this way.
Anyway continue calling your senators and reps. ICE has not left and we are still under a paramilitary occupation. My students are not safe and shouldn’t have to feel this way.
January 30, 2026 at 3:18 PM
Second R01 for the lab submitted despite it all. Levi is taking all the credit for it (co-I of course).
Anyway continue calling your senators and reps. ICE has not left and we are still under a paramilitary occupation. My students are not safe and shouldn’t have to feel this way.
Anyway continue calling your senators and reps. ICE has not left and we are still under a paramilitary occupation. My students are not safe and shouldn’t have to feel this way.
Reposted by Kirstie Cummings
Love that this post highlights a classic Neuro Monty Pyton theory of Andrew Huberman: “the head shape” theory
Congratulations to CBS for hiring their first neurocomedian
Congratulations to CBS for hiring their first neurocomedian
In response to announcement that he will be a new CBS contributor, Andrew Huberman tweeted “I’ve always gone issue-by-issue on health & science, spoken to experts w/a range of takes & presented where I see the center of (data) mass pointed. I’ll do the same with @CBSNews”. In Sept he posted this:
January 28, 2026 at 3:31 AM
Love that this post highlights a classic Neuro Monty Pyton theory of Andrew Huberman: “the head shape” theory
Congratulations to CBS for hiring their first neurocomedian
Congratulations to CBS for hiring their first neurocomedian
Yes, the fact it was written out made me wonder!
January 28, 2026 at 8:46 PM
Yes, the fact it was written out made me wonder!
In an email asking me to serve on a study section, it states that if you have a family member/relative who is listed as key personnel, you can't serve on the study section. As a first-gen college grad, I am 🤯🤯 as I never considered this possibility?? Is this common??
January 28, 2026 at 7:55 PM
In an email asking me to serve on a study section, it states that if you have a family member/relative who is listed as key personnel, you can't serve on the study section. As a first-gen college grad, I am 🤯🤯 as I never considered this possibility?? Is this common??
Reposted by Kirstie Cummings
This is Alex Pretti.
This morning he was murdered by ICE. Six ICE agents held him down and shot him at point blank range. Alex was a nurse and researcher at the VA.
Our thoughts are with his loved ones and we stand united in action calling for the abolishment of ICE.
#ScientistsAgainstICE
This morning he was murdered by ICE. Six ICE agents held him down and shot him at point blank range. Alex was a nurse and researcher at the VA.
Our thoughts are with his loved ones and we stand united in action calling for the abolishment of ICE.
#ScientistsAgainstICE
January 24, 2026 at 8:03 PM
This is Alex Pretti.
This morning he was murdered by ICE. Six ICE agents held him down and shot him at point blank range. Alex was a nurse and researcher at the VA.
Our thoughts are with his loved ones and we stand united in action calling for the abolishment of ICE.
#ScientistsAgainstICE
This morning he was murdered by ICE. Six ICE agents held him down and shot him at point blank range. Alex was a nurse and researcher at the VA.
Our thoughts are with his loved ones and we stand united in action calling for the abolishment of ICE.
#ScientistsAgainstICE
Reposted by Kirstie Cummings
Just spoke to The Hill about how the dismantling of the NIH is impacting science in America. We still face a cliff of unfathomable heights, w easily 1000+ labs poised to close in the next year due to funding ending. A generation of young scientists lost because there is nowhere for them to train.
January 20, 2026 at 4:03 PM
Just spoke to The Hill about how the dismantling of the NIH is impacting science in America. We still face a cliff of unfathomable heights, w easily 1000+ labs poised to close in the next year due to funding ending. A generation of young scientists lost because there is nowhere for them to train.
Congratulations Stephanie!!!! Amazing news and so well-deserved!!
January 21, 2026 at 2:32 PM
Congratulations Stephanie!!!! Amazing news and so well-deserved!!
Nice to meet you and talk some science, Harrison!
January 16, 2026 at 12:33 AM
Nice to meet you and talk some science, Harrison!
Reposted by Kirstie Cummings
Our last stops were @kacummings.bsky.social and our own @seemiller.bsky.social!! #HarrisonAtACNP #ACNP
January 15, 2026 at 10:44 PM
Our last stops were @kacummings.bsky.social and our own @seemiller.bsky.social!! #HarrisonAtACNP #ACNP
Reposted by Kirstie Cummings
I was asked to do an impromptu "Ask an Expert" radio interview on memory manipulation as a therapeutic for PTSD and Alzheimer's. The topic was prompted by @okaysteve.bsky.social recent book. Have a listen if interested! www.audacy.com/podcast/kcbs...
www.audacy.com
January 16, 2026 at 12:28 AM
I was asked to do an impromptu "Ask an Expert" radio interview on memory manipulation as a therapeutic for PTSD and Alzheimer's. The topic was prompted by @okaysteve.bsky.social recent book. Have a listen if interested! www.audacy.com/podcast/kcbs...
Reposted by Kirstie Cummings
Thrilled this is out, led by former PD Cameron Ogg (now with her own lab at @rhodescollege.bsky.social!). It was a driven by a desire to see, in real-time, how LC activity/NE release influences downstream targets in behaving animals. SO hard to do, but Cameron did it! www.cell.com/cell-reports...
Locus coeruleus norepinephrine neurons facilitate orbitofrontal cortex remapping and behavioral flexibility
Ogg et al. use in vivo imaging techniques to record activity in the locus coeruleus
(LC) and the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) during a reversal learning task in freely
moving rodents. They show that man...
www.cell.com
December 15, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Thrilled this is out, led by former PD Cameron Ogg (now with her own lab at @rhodescollege.bsky.social!). It was a driven by a desire to see, in real-time, how LC activity/NE release influences downstream targets in behaving animals. SO hard to do, but Cameron did it! www.cell.com/cell-reports...
Reposted by Kirstie Cummings
is there a *mr* information?
December 11, 2025 at 4:35 PM
is there a *mr* information?
Reposted by Kirstie Cummings
In @thetransmitter.bsky.social’s Rising Stars of Neuroscience 2025, we recognize 25 early-career researchers who have made outstanding scientific contributions and demonstrated a commitment to mentoring and community-building in neuroscience.
#neuroskyence #StateOfNeuroscience
bit.ly/4rnFnyQ
#neuroskyence #StateOfNeuroscience
bit.ly/4rnFnyQ
November 24, 2025 at 2:50 PM
In @thetransmitter.bsky.social’s Rising Stars of Neuroscience 2025, we recognize 25 early-career researchers who have made outstanding scientific contributions and demonstrated a commitment to mentoring and community-building in neuroscience.
#neuroskyence #StateOfNeuroscience
bit.ly/4rnFnyQ
#neuroskyence #StateOfNeuroscience
bit.ly/4rnFnyQ
Listen Andrew, you gotta keep up with the younger generations if you want to survive
November 21, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Listen Andrew, you gotta keep up with the younger generations if you want to survive
Yep. Glorious leader is more glorious than ever today! Does that count??
November 21, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Yep. Glorious leader is more glorious than ever today! Does that count??
No more paylines, just ✨️vibes✨️
November 21, 2025 at 9:14 PM
No more paylines, just ✨️vibes✨️
Thank you, @thetransmitter.bsky.social, for including me on the list of Rising Stars in Neuroscience along with so many other spectacular neuroscientists! It is an honor to receive this recognition!
November 18, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Thank you, @thetransmitter.bsky.social, for including me on the list of Rising Stars in Neuroscience along with so many other spectacular neuroscientists! It is an honor to receive this recognition!
We are starting to interview some ✨️spectacular✨️ candidates! Don't miss this opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research in a highly supportive and nurturing training environment! Apply now!
The Cummings Lab is hiring a postdoc to work in the areas of reward and addiction! Please see the ad below:
November 13, 2025 at 2:12 PM
We are starting to interview some ✨️spectacular✨️ candidates! Don't miss this opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research in a highly supportive and nurturing training environment! Apply now!
Congratulations to Cummings lab PhD student (now candidate), Hunter Franks, on a very successful candidacy exam! So proud of him and all Cummings Lab members!
November 12, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Congratulations to Cummings lab PhD student (now candidate), Hunter Franks, on a very successful candidacy exam! So proud of him and all Cummings Lab members!
Reposted by Kirstie Cummings
Oh, how I miss you so. Especially on nights like this. 🥹
November 5, 2025 at 2:42 AM
Oh, how I miss you so. Especially on nights like this. 🥹
Reposted by Kirstie Cummings
Disturbing news out of Auburn University, where the admin is pressuring professors to sign a statement saying they're complying with an "anti-DEI" law and TPUSA is holding a rally and trying to record classes.
I hear faculty are terrified to sign, worried this is a pretense for mass firings.
I hear faculty are terrified to sign, worried this is a pretense for mass firings.
Auburn University requires faculty to review courses to comply with anti-DEI law
Auburn's provost office posted a web site on how to comply with state and federal DEI mandates on Oct. 31.
www.al.com
November 5, 2025 at 12:16 AM
Disturbing news out of Auburn University, where the admin is pressuring professors to sign a statement saying they're complying with an "anti-DEI" law and TPUSA is holding a rally and trying to record classes.
I hear faculty are terrified to sign, worried this is a pretense for mass firings.
I hear faculty are terrified to sign, worried this is a pretense for mass firings.
Reposted by Kirstie Cummings
You are not a schmuck. You cared enough about your colleagues to do everything in your power to get them a fair and thorough review. Because when the SROs return, we can only move to reschedule as quickly as we have all scores to know what will be discussed. You value your community. Thank you.
Did the reviews, like a schmuck. Only about 1/4 of the reviews were submitted. lolsob
November 3, 2025 at 7:09 PM
You are not a schmuck. You cared enough about your colleagues to do everything in your power to get them a fair and thorough review. Because when the SROs return, we can only move to reschedule as quickly as we have all scores to know what will be discussed. You value your community. Thank you.
Reposted by Kirstie Cummings
What an exciting program for GRC Frontal Cortex in 2026! www.grc.org/frontal-cort...
2026 Frontal Cortex Conference GRC
The 2026 Gordon Research Conference on Frontal Cortex will be held in Holderness, New Hampshire. Apply today to reserve your spot.
www.grc.org
November 3, 2025 at 7:18 PM
What an exciting program for GRC Frontal Cortex in 2026! www.grc.org/frontal-cort...